Showing posts with label Rasika Pote. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rasika Pote. Show all posts
Raabta | Film Review
For his debut venture as a director, Dinesh Vijan helms a film which brings together passionate lovers, who have been crossing various hurdles and challenges of life. With a tagline that goes - Everything is connected, you know you are in for something interesting. The film stays true to the tagline, with a twist of reincarnation. Shiv (Sushant Singh Rajput) and Saira (Kriti Sanon) cross paths and instantly feel a connection with each other. It’s all hunky dory, until someone from the past ruins their happiness.
The film begins with our Punjabi boy flying to Europe for work. It is here Shiv meets the love of his life - Saira, who makes chocolates. Shiv is a lady killer, while Saira is a single, young, vibrant baker, who often gets some weird dreams in the night. As Shiv and Saira go on to happily romance each other, a twist comes in the form of Zak Merchant (Jim Sarbh), who opens the door to a parallel universe. He is the answer to all the questions that arise in the first half. However, just when you think it’s all going well, the film becomes a little too predictable in the second half. To know where life leads Shiv, Saira and Zak next, you gotta watch the film!
Sushant Singh Rajput has once again proved that he can make you believe in any character he plays on screen. There is surely no iota of similarity in both the characters he has portrayed in the film. His performance is clearly one of the biggest strengths of this film. Kriti Sanon had a tough time putting her act together, especially when compared to Rajput and Sarbh. After an excellent performance in Neerja, Sarbh brings in the dark and intense feel to the film with his performance. He has a unique dialogue delivery, which helped his character to come across as strong and impactful. He is intense and mysterious, thus essaying an obsessive lover bang on. Both Rajput and Sanon display crackling chemistry, which definitely stands out. The cameo by Rajkumar Rao (as an old character) and Deepika Padukone’s guest appearance in the title track were both refreshing and interesting.
In the technical space, the film has good VFX and costumes. The make up is great. Music is interesting and the casting is on point. However, the biggest highlight here would the fabulous background score by Sachin-Jigar. It sets the mood right throughout the film.
Although, Raabta had all the elements of a successful commercial film, somewhere, we felt there was something amiss. You know, how despite having all the other products in place, one missing spice can ruin a dish? That’s exactly what goes wrong here. There is no soul or connect in the film. The storyline was lacklustre. A film like Raabta could have certainly done with a much stronger story and screenplay. It could have only taken the film a notch higher. More so, for the fabulous performances delivered by the cast, especially Rajput and Sarbh.
Verdict: If the storyline doesn't bother you much, go ahead & watch Raabta for the artists. Especially Sushant Singh Rajput, who shines as both a warrior and lover.
☆☆☆
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Rangoon | Film Review
Being a huge fan of Vishal Bhardwaj’s cinematic craft, Rangoon was undoubtedly one of the most awaited films on our list. In fact, a lot of times, the audience tends to have certain pre conceived notions about his films. The process of storytelling is entangled, characters are intense and the impact is consuming. Well, it's easy to say that Rangoon is a great blend of it all. But, there is a lot more to the film than just stereotypical notions. Set in the 1940s, with the backdrop of World War II - a turbulent time for most parts of the world, Rangoon is a gripping tale that is mostly centred around its lead protagonists - a renowned filmmaker (Rusi Billimoria - played by Saif Ali Khan), a famous stunt queen (Julia - played by Kangana Ranaut) and a sincere Indian soldier from the British army (Nawab Malik - played by Shahid Kapoor). But, does Bhardwaj's period drama manage to keep you hooked on right till the end? Read on to find out.
Needless to say, the trailer had given away the basic fact that the film is set in the 1940’s with a love triangle evolving in the times of war. Indeed, the different shades of love portrayed on screen capture Julia’s relationship with Rusi and Nawab Malik beautifully. Amidst the bombs, bullets and war, Julia is also fighting a psychological turmoil, while trying desperately to connect with herself. The shift in Julia's personality cannot be missed. While her relationship with Rusi looks controlled and forced, the second half sees her set out like a free bird, who is madly in love with Nawab Malik. But, how far will this take their relationship? What happens when Rusi learns about Julia's relationship? You have to watch the film to find out.
As expected, Rangoon is packed with some terrific performances from the lead cast. Shahid Kapoor nails it with his nuances and fabulous act as the calm, intense and sincere soldier, Nawab Malik, who is torn between his loyalty for the country and passionate love for Julia. The best proof of Kapoor's powerful performance? The very fact that even in scenes where he has no dialogue, the actor makes a strong impact with his eyes and remarkable body language.
Ranaut's Julia is real, feisty and daring. She excels with a fine performance, that has the perfect balance of excellent dialogue delivery and expressions. Khan's Rusi looks powerful and performs very well. His classy demeanour was a perfect fit for the role. Apart from the leading trio, there are some really interesting characters in the ensemble cast. The supporting actors have acted well and contribute in helping the story move forward.
In the technical department, it is Pankaj Kumar’s cinematography that strikes out as the hero! Every frame looks visually stunning. Additionally, the grim look and feel helps in establishing a connect with the turmoil and complexities throughout the film. The unique song and dance sequences are something to watch out for, as everything about it looks and feel different. The dialogues penned by Bhardwaj served as interesting hook points in the film. Despite a few patchy parts here and there, director Vishal Bharadwaj does a good job of diving deeper into the subjects of his film and presents a soul stirring love saga, packed with a gripping plot, while doing justice to its backdrop quite wonderfully. Overall, we certainly feel Rangoon is one ‘Bloody Hell’ of a ride!
Verdict: Amidst bombs, bullets and darkness, love blossoms. Do yourself a favour and watch this visually stunning, poignant love saga on the big screen.
✩✩✩✩
Have you watched Rangoon or got your tickets booked already? Let us know your feedback in the comment box below or join the conversation on Twitter!
Jolly LLB 2 | Film Review
Subhash Kapoor’s second innings with Jolly LLB 2 is a twisted tale of truth and lies, that makes a strong comment on the Indian Judicial system. The film, a sequel to 2013's surprise hit and National award winning film - Jolly LLB (starring Arshad Warsi), already had the responsibility of living up to the expectations in terms of performances and story. Does the film, especially Akshay Kumar's presence and performance, live upto the expectations? Read on to find out.
The film begins on a light note, where Jagdishwar Mishra (Akshay Kumar) helps the students of a small village in passing an exam, by announcing the answers to the questions through a microphone in exchange of money. Mishra is an innocent man, who dreams of becoming a big lawyer. However, during this journey, his fate takes a different turn. That's when the film changes track, with the courtroom drama taking centre stage.
With some good research, Subhash Kapoor has surely managed to bring out fine detailing in the script, especially with the dialogues, setting and court room proceedings. While the first half helps establish central characters, the story gains excellent pace post interval. The screenplay looks a bit messed up in the first half, as the circumstances seem pretty predictable till intermission (especially if you watch films regularly). Finally, it is the climax that leaves you astonished. Just when you see Mishra losing all hopes, the tables turn and how.
Sourabh Shukla as Justice Sunderlal Tripathi has reprised his role from the first film and has retained his comic timings and punch lines. Anu Kapoor as Advocate Pramod Mathur has also given a tough fight in the battle of justice as the defence lawyer. Huma Qureshi, who plays Akshay’s wife - Pushpa Pandey, loves her 'English' liquor and dreams about Gucci outfits. She eats while Jolly cooks, just like a doting husband, thus painting a happy family picture in the film. However, it is Akshay Kumar who performed exceedingly well as Jagdishwar Mishra aka Jolly. He leads the film in its light and serious moments brilliantly. Overall, Jolly LLB 2 makes for a good watch, especially with it's presentation and exceptional performances.
Verdict: Watch it! Akshay Kumar's refreshingly different act and the intriguing case will definitely keep you hooked on to this courtroom drama. ✮✮✮1/2
Raees | Film Review
“Aa raha hoon main” - a line synonymous with Shahrukh Khan in and as Raees. A powerful dialogue that created great buzz among fans and cinephiles alike, and was the centre of all promotional activities related to the film. Needless to say, Khan has arrived with a bang and how. The actor is back with a power packed, full on entertaining film. Raees will to take you back to the 70s, an era of masala entertainers and the angry young man. Read on to know more:
As you watch ‘Shahrukh Khan in and as Raees’ unfold under the opening credits, even a newly turned cinephile is bound to get awestruck. Set in the backdrop of Gujarat of the 70’s and 80s, a time when alcohol prohibition was affected in the state for over two decades, the film traces its central protagonist's journey to the top. His mother’s words - "Koi dhanda chhota ya bada nahi hota, aur dhande se bada koi dharm nahin hota," becomes the main motto of his life. It shows how a young boy living in the bylanes of a small village called Fatehpur goes on to setup his own business and becomes Raees - the most powerful man in the state. Raees is intelligent, smart, witty, determined, brave and above all - a Man of steel with a heart of gold.
Raees will to take you back to the 70s, an era of masala entertainers and the angry young man
Nawazzuddin Siddiqui as ACP Majmudar is brilliant. His character is equally determined to catch hold of Raees and curb his illegal businesses. The relationship between Majumdar and Raees is one of the strongest highlights in the film. Both Nawaz and Khan have played their respective parts quite interestingly and their equation as a cop-thief keeps you engaged throughout the film. Mahira Khan (as Asiya) plays Khan's love interest in the film. The actress has made her presence felt with a strong performance. Rest of the cast too have done good justice to their respective roles, with a deserving mention for both Atul Kulkarni as Jayraaj Bhai and Mohammad Zeeshan Ayyub as Sadiq, who have performed incredibly well.
Both Nawaz and Khan have played their respective parts quite interestingly and their equation as a cop-thief keeps you engaged throughout the film
After the national award winning film Parzania, a few popular documentaries and his last release, Lamhaa in 2010, Raees marks Rahul Dholakia's return to the big screen after seven years. But, he has hit the bulls eyes with superb directorial skills and does complete justice to this power packed entertainer, just like a pro commercial film maker. The film is complete with some terrific action sequences, fabulous songs, and fascinating high speed shots, which only adds to the impact of Raees, both as a character and an overall film. Ram Sampath's fantastic background score keeps up with the energy and pace of the film. The soundtrack is catchy and serves as a breather in between the well paced storyline. Dialogues of the film have already garnered a lot of attention and accolades before the release, but the film has many more to cherish. K.U. Mohanan's cinematography manages to capture Raees like a King, so much that as an audience, you are in an awe of him throughout the film. Overall, Raees will keep you hooked on to your seats and glued on to the screen, right till the end credits roll out. This is paisa vasool entertainment, at its best!
Verdict: Gripping story, captivating performances, great songs and of course, Khan, in a never before seen avatar, delivering one of his best performances till date. Raees has everything that a blockbuster hit needs. We recommend you book tickets before they are sold out for the week!
☆☆☆☆
☆☆☆☆
Recreating The World of Mughal-e-Azam | In conversation with Mayuri Upadhya
Manav Ratna awardee, choreographer and dancer Mayuri Upadhya is currently creating magic and breathing life into K.Asif’s timeless epic and now a musical play, Mughal-E-Azam. Helmed by acclaimed theatre and film director Feroz Abbas Khan, the play is a unanimous creation of some very talented and skilled artists, and is currently running in it’s second season with house full shows at the NCPA in Mumbai.
A trained professional dancer, Mayuri had charmed the audience with her beautiful choreography in Mirzya last year and had also conceptualised, choreographer the inauguration for Make in India week 2016. She went on to bag her first musical, Mughal-E-Azam, in the same year. Right from the first season, she has mesmerised the audience with sounds of ghungroo in the play. Mayuri went on to win hearts, and earned accolades, appreciation for her work. We caught up with the artist in between rehearsals for the ongoing second season of the play. In an exclusive chat, Mayuri Upadhyay gives us get an insight into the journey of recreating the choreography for a magnum opus - Mughal-E-Azam, on stage.
What were your first thoughts when you got the opportunity to choreograph the musical?
Initially it was ‘Wow’, then it became ‘Why?’ and then finally, the thought ended with ‘How?’ Firstly, the name of this show itself spoke a lot about the magnification of the project. Secondly, I was wondering why are they approaching me and not a Bollywood choreographer to do the job. Finally, I was thinking how will I be creating the magic in a limited time frame.
How has the journey of choreographing a grand musical like Mughal-E-Azam been?
How has the journey of choreographing a grand musical like Mughal-E-Azam been?
It has been overwhelming, as this is my first musical attempt. I have just loved the journey so far. The love and appreciation for my work is inspiring. It has really been my sincere effort and I have put my best in creating every song for this musical.
What is the most challenging and unique element that you have incorporated in your choreography for this musical?
When I pick up a project, everything is versatile. Every song has a unique approach in the play. We chose Kathak as the dance form as it is the most pure form, and have given Kathak a contemporary look. The song ‘Mohe panghat pe’ has been given a whole mythological, raasleela touch through the choreography. Then there is the famous song ‘Pyaar kiya toh darna kya’, which has been given a modern feminist approach. I feel every woman is an Anarkali in her own way. We have kept the choreography contemporary in its movement and gestures. During my discussion with Firoz sir, he was very sure wanted that he wanted to keep the look of this musical very minimalistic. He didn’t want to do anything over the top. I just incorporated his school of thought in my work. You will see there are no loud props or flashy jewellery. It is the unique approach and imagination that keeps its freshness intact.
Which role do you enjoy the most, Dancer or Choreographer?
Which role do you enjoy the most, Dancer or Choreographer?
Dangal | Film Review
Dangal is a story of hope. It explores the aspiration, determination, dedication and consistency required to work towards your dream, in order to achieve success. The film follows the journey of real life wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat, a dreamer who hails from a small village in Haryana. A man of strong will, who trains and pushes his daughters - Geeta and Babita at every step and leaves no stone unturned to make them world class wrestlers and champions. It is a story of inspirational, strong women, who paved the way for young girls, who dreamt of making a career in wrestling. And once you watch the film, you cannot leave the cinema hall without a sense of pride - for both having such incredible heroes in our country and an industry that produces a flawless film like Dangal.
The film is a sports drama that revolves around Phogat and his dream to win a gold medal for India in wrestling. While he is unable to do so, he aspires to see his daughters do the same. Although initially, the dream is impossible to fulfil without a son, an incident pushes Phogat to believe that his girls have the potential to do well. Thus, Geeta and Babita's 'gold rush' journey begins. Since the film has a good pace, you are hooked on to the developments, right from the first frame. Dialogues are great, especially some incredible punch lines during the face-offs that will make you laugh and clap, as you watch the girls play against their opponents. It is important to note that in most films made on sports, somehow the story gets more mileage and the sport becomes complimentary. Fortunately, it is commendable how Dangal gets to the root of the sport and explains / shows everything related to wrestling in great detail. For someone with little or no knowledge, the film manages to create some serious curiosity and fascination around wrestling, with adequate information. Pritam's background score and soundtrack helps in the amplification of the emotions and mood of the film.
Aamir Khan as Mahavir Singh Phogat has once again proved why he is called a perfectionist. As the determined and disciplinary father, who will go out of his way to turn his daughters into world champions, Khan strikes a chord and delivers an outstanding performance. Right from his transformation to a flawless act; there is no stopping Khan here. Debutants Saniya Malhotra as Babita and Fatima Sana Shaikh as Geeta do a fine job and their hard work is evident on screen. You will find yourself applauding in the theatres, as you watch the two girls fighting it out, one match after another. Zaira Wasim and Suhani Bhatnagar, who play the young Geeta and Babita respectively, keep you glued on with their impeccable comic timing and perfect nuances as a budding wrestler in the first half. They set the mood right in the film with their stellar performances. Sakshi Tanwar who plays Phogat's wife, Daya Shobha Kaur, is exceptional and leaves a strong impression with her performance. Mukesh Chhabra's casting is spot on, as every character seems real and has equal contribution in making the film impactful and appealing. As the captain of this strong ship, Nitesh Tiwari excels and gives us a film that ends the year on a high.
Even if the climax is predictable, it is shot beautifully. You will find yourself sitting at the edge of your seats, holding your breath, watching every second of the proceedings, without even blinking or excusing yourself for a break. Films like these urge you to stand on your feet, clap and salute the country and its heroes. Everybody loves to witness or experience the sheer joy of cheering for your country’s glorious win. But, when you haven't attended or watched the real event, and a film manages to portray the exact emotion perfectly - that's powerful cinema for you! Dangal has that experience in store for you. Without a doubt, Dangal is one of the best sports films made in India till date. Take a bow, team! You deserve it.
Verdict: Aamir ki chhoriyaa ladkon se kum nahi. Highly recommended!
Kahaani 2 | Film Review
Film maker Sujoy Ghosh and actress Vidya Balan’s much anticipated director-actor venture together - Kahaani 2, has everything that a gripping drama needs. This edge of the seat, engrossing tale successfully keeps you hooked on throughout the running time of 119 minutes. The national award winning actress is seen essaying two characters, that of Durga Rani Singh and Vidya Sinha, in a film that shoots your curiosity levels to a different high.
As stated by Vidya in our interview, Kahaani 2 is completely different, and has nothing to do with the 2012 film - Kahaani. As a fresh story, Kahaani 2 manages to hold your attention, right from the opening scene to the unpredictable climax. Five minutes into the film, and the fast paced sequence of events in Vidya Sinha and her daughter’s life makes you restless and curious. In the film, Vidya Sinha is a paranoid mother whose daughter goes missing and the police are chasing Durga Rani Singh who is wanted under kidnapping and murder charges. Inder (Arjun Rampal) is a cop in charge on the case and also a significant part of Vidya’s past, which is revealed to the audience in the most surprising manner. The film deals with a sensitive issue and Sujoy Ghosh’s story telling has successfully managed to convey the message in its rightest form, keeping the intensity of the issue intact. The first half leaves you with no time to breathe (and nope, no loo break either). Be prepared for unexpected shocks, as the story unfolds.
Some dialogues stand out and stay with you throughout the film. The screenplay is perfect and enough to give you goosebumps, while excellent background score can make you skip a heartbeat. Dark and dim lighting in the film keeps the unsettling mood intact. Rampal’s as Inder is engaging and manages to stand out in the film with a great performance. Balan, on the other hand, portrays a gamut of emotions on screen. From being a protective mother to a courageous and brave woman, who is fighting against all odds; she does it all and that too, quite effortlessly. The highlight of this film is how once again, Vidya emerges as 'Durga' to end the evil.
With all it's shocks, twists, turns and commendable performances; Kahaani 2 is definitely a must watch. Durga Rani Singh's Kahaani is intriguing, as it unfolds in Sujoy Ghosh style. We recommend that you reach early and settle down in the cinema hall immediately, as you definitely don't wanna miss a scene of this crisp, gripping and fabulously crafted film.
Verdict: We highly recommend that you go out and watch this 'Kahaani' unfold. Also, be prepared to be at the edge of your seat throughout the film!
Dear Zindagi | Film Review
Jo dil se lage…Usey keh do Hi, Hi, Hi
Jo dil na lage….Usey keh do bye, bye, bye
Gauri Shinde’s second directorial film Dear Zindagi opens up as the diary of a young girl (nope, not quoting the book here) and her journey. It begins with Kaira’s (Alia Bhatt) dreams, ambitions and ends up by putting her broken past together. Although the story here revolves around Kaira’s life and her chronicles, but Dr. Jehangir Khan (Shah Rukh Khan) aka Jug becomes a critical part of the story telling process.
Kaira is a cinematographer, who dreams of filming a feature film. Unfortunately, this golden opportunity arrives at her doorstep, along with a heartbreak. One on hand, she is chasing her dreams, while on the other, she suffers a heartbreak. As a result, the girl is unable to cope with all the trauma and loses her sleep. She seeks help from Dr. Jehangir Khan, a psychiatrist with a completely different take on mental health. Kaira finds a confidante in Jug and opens up about her broken past as well as the anxieties in her life. The film also has other characters that may not contribute to the story, but had their share of roles in the film. But, Dear Zindagi is predominantly Kaira’s story.
The first half of the film manages to entertain the audience with Alia’s natural act as Kaira. A few other characters too perform well. However, the film has a slow pace and a few moments here, there tend to lead towards boredom. Moments before the interval, Shah Rukh’s entry as Jug creates some serious curiosity and you look forward to watching the story move forward. As the second half kicks off, we see how Jug imparts gyaan and helps Kaira find herself back. He inspires her to look at life through a different perspective. Shah Rukh’s character uses some absorbing metaphors in the film to convey these points, which we thought was quite interesting. However, after a point, his character takes a turn to being just a philosophical guru.
The screenplay of the film is scattered and we don’t know if it was done deliberately in order to symbolise Kaira’s own scattered emotions and life. Amit Trivedi has done a good job with the music, and even after the film, the song ‘Love you Zindagi’ stays with you. Film maker Gauri Shinde had really raised the bar with English Vinglish and our expectations were high. However, it seems like while focusing on the characters and making them the highlight of this film, the story got lost in the process. For us, the only thing which kept the film going was Alia and SRK’s fabulous performance. The young actress has once again proved that she is indeed one of the finest female actors of her generation.
Verdict: Good performances overshadow the flaws in this one. Give it a watch for Alia and SRK!
What are your thoughts on Dear Zindagi? Leave a comment below or join the conversation on Twitter
Ae Dil Hai Mushkil | Film Review
‘Mohabbat junoon hai, par dosti sukoon hai’ – once again, film maker Karan Johar has tried to redefine relationships. This time, creating a blend of some old moments, to present something new. The feeling that connects Alizeh (Anushka Sharma ) & Ayaan (Ranbir Kapoor) and creates a bond between the two for a lifetime. In the picturesque backdrop of London and Paris, Karan weaves his story of love, friendship and heartbreak.
For Alizeh, sky is the limit. She comes across as a full of fun, vibrant, audacious girl; with wings firmly attached to her boots. At heart, Alizeh is filmy, and has a bucket list full of filmy dreams. Alize is head over heels in love with DJ Ali ( Fawad Khan). Despite being heartbroken, she takes the risk and gives love another chance to be disappointed again. The first half of ADHM clearly belongs to Anushka, who shines as the true hero of this film. On the other side, we have Ayaan - a filthy rich guy, with perks including a private jet, but dreams of a life that is filled with only pure music and love. As Ayaan, Ranbir successfully transforms into a passionate lover and does complete justice to his character. His chemistry with Anushka forms a great connect between the audience and their special relationship, which goes way beyond love.
While, major part of the film rests on Ayaan and Alizeh's (Ranbir & Anushka) shoulders, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan as Sabah steals your heart with her fabulous performance. Things are all sad and gloomy, but suddenly, Sabah enters the scene and brightens up our screens with her charm and charismatic personality. In the second half, Aishwarya's Sabah leads and shines with her grace, elegance and beauty. The actress looks absolutely stunning and needless to say, this is definitely of her career best performances.
Ae Dil Hai Mushkil is the perfect entertaining combination of powerful performance, Pritam's melodious tracks (and some good ol' retro tracks) adding a nice touch to the overall 'Vaatavaran' (if I may say so), mesmerising dialogues, some seriously surprising and fun guest appearances, friendship ka sukoon and of course, mohaabat ka junoon.
Verdict: ‘Samjhaoge toh khud samajh jaoge, aur samajh gayye toh bikhar jaoge’ – If you ever felt a special connect with someone, who is equally mad and crazy as you, then this film is definitely a must watch (or even otherwise, honestly).
The MAMI Diaries (Day 2 & 3) | Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2016
You've read all about our first day at the festival in an earlier post. After a mad rush at the bookings, we finally managed to secure seats for our favourite picks during the weekend. Of course, we knew it wasn't gonna be easy and had to let go of some films, due to unavailability. Weekend at the cinemas saw a huge crowd. People were literally seen camping out and queuing up hours before the screening, just to ensure they catch up with their favourite film. Here's a round up of our weekend watch at the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2016.
Day 2 kickstarted with the most dark, unsettling, psychological-horror film, The Neon Demon. Certain visuals in the film were nicely crafted, but as the story progressed, it somehow made the breakfast (morning show, remember) churn in your tummy. After wrapping up some commitments in between, we got back to the cinemas to end our day with a fun, satirical Saudi Arabian film, Barakah meets Barakah. The theatre was packed, with people rushing to grab a preferred seat, and later, even sitting in the front row seats, to enjoy the film. Barakah meets Barakah was an irony of how the moral police in Saudi Arabia, and the whole society at large, is caged and deprived of freedom of expression, art and love.
When it's the MAMI week, even a Sunday is packed with schedules and day filled with other work commitments. For us, Day 3 was full of experimental cinema. We started off with the much anticipated French-German-Belgian psychological thriller - Elle. While the film had an interesting plot, it unfortunately could not hold our attention for long. Our afternoon pick certainly set the tone right. Swiss Army Man received a thunderous applause from the audience. The chemistry between the lead actors, Paul Dano and Daniel Radcliffe was spectacular, making the audience fall in love with their world. Our Sunday ended with Madly, a global anthology film with six stories of modern love. However, we personally felt it was full of loose ends and random stories. Definitely not worth the hype.
It's Day 4 at the cinema and we look forward to watching some good films. It also marks the premiere of 'Marathi Talkies', where four beautiful Marathi films will be showcased. Watch this space to know more about our day at the cinemas.
The MAMI Diaries (Day 01) - Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2016 | #DancebeeatMAMI
Regulars at Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2016 know that once the festival kickstarts, life is never the same again for an entire week. A typical MAMI delegate's day starts as early 8 am, schedule in one hand and maybe, coffee in another. bookmyshow becomes a permanent bookmark on your desktop, as you log on to book a seat for your 'must watch' shows, scheduled for the next day (good ol' advance booking). All this, while secretly praying for availability. Of course, rest of the day is spent hopping from one screening (and cinema hall) to another, enjoying the magic of world cinema. For those familiar with the routine, these words may have made you smile. And we are quite sure, Day 01 was similar for most of you. Well, here's what it looked like for Team Dancebee.
For us, the day began with a lot of chaos. Technical errors delayed bookings for shows scheduled on Oct 22. However, 15 minutes later, things got normal. By 8:45 am, most shows were full. However, we were assured of 20% reservation for on-ground bookings at the venue, apart from the general queue. This, of course, came as a huge sight of relief to us. We packed our bags and head out to attend our respective commitments for the day. While Priya chose PVR Phoenix, Team Dancebee's Rasika picked PVR ECX.
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While we thought our worries were restricted to just the technical errors, there was more. At ECX, confusion led to chaos at most screenings. Delegates in the general line had to make do with front row seats only. There were arguments and hassles almost before every screening. It was like watching a film outside the audi. However, the situation at Phoenix was completely the opposite. Most afternoon screenings were empty, and the entire on-ground booking process was quite smooth. There was no chaos or argument of any sort. Cinephiles were spotted enjoying a chat or hot cuppa at the nearby Starbucks outlet, in between shows. Nobody rushed ahead of others, and the atmosphere was great.
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| (Top to Bottom) - Keith Mainland's Tower and Pankaj Johar's Cecilia |
While Priya had to miss her first screening for the day - I Called Him Morgan, due to unavoidable reasons, she caught up with Keith Mainland's documentary Tower, based on the University of Texas shootings in 1966. The film is a mix of rotoscopic animation and archival footage, which is predominately used to depict the series of events. It also includes interviews, including that of the witnesses, police among others. Pankaj Johar's Cecilia followed next, a documentary based on the crisis and confusion faced by Johar's house help Cecilia Hasda, after her daughter goes missing and becomes a victim of child trafficking. The film perfectly explores the poignant journey of Cecilia, the vicious circle of child trafficking and the ugly twists and turns that one has to face, in order to achieve justice in this country. Truly, an eye opener!
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| (Top to Bottom) - Certain Women and Wild |
For Rasika, the two films she watched on Day 1 revolved around strong and distinct characters. The story was like a background theme, and the characters stood out extensively. Certain Women explores a handful of intersecting lives and focuses on three women, who led a normal life, and are creating their own path in life, while living in a small town. Next, the German film - Wild, made the audience go speechless. The female protagonist (Lilith Stangenberg) took her performance to another level of wildness.
As the day came to an end, we got back to work and life, all ready to set our alarms for another early morning (and some mad rush for Sunday show bookings). In addition, we are looking forward to the much awaited Movie Mela, a two-day film extravaganza that has some fun sessions in store.
Don't forget to follow us on Facebook | Twitter | Snapchat | Instagram for live updates from the event or join the conversation with the hashtag #DancebeeatMAMI!
Text by: Priya Adivarekar, Rasika Pote
Compiled by: Priya Adivarekar
The Indian Cinema Treasure | Films to watch out for at Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2016
The 18th edition of Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival with Star, has 170+ films selected from all over the world. While we discussed our international favourites in a special series, we have also got several Indian films taking centre stage. This year, they have been distributed largely into three categories: India Gold, India Story and Discovering India. Also, not to forget, the 'Marathi Talkies' section, which also includes some remarkable films.
Like last year, this year too, an Indian Film - Konkana Sen Sharma’s directorial debut ‘A Death in the Gunj’ opens the festival at Royal Opera House in Mumbai. With Indian Films are all set to entertain the audiences at MAMI, we help you pick some of the best on the list. Don’t miss out on our Indian films, that have been made with a lot of hard word, determination and dedication, by our desi filmmakers.
Lipstick Under My Burkha (India Gold)
Director: Alankrita Shrivastava
The film weaves together life of one burqa-clad college girl, a young beautician, a mother of three and a 55-year-old widow who rediscovers her sexuality. The film is produced by Prakash Jha, while his assistant director Alankrita Shrivastava wears the director’s cap in this one. The film is packed with a renowned cast and is also going to premiere at the 29th Tokyo International Film Festival 2016.
Autohead (India Gold)
Director: Rohit Mittal
The Autohead trailer has already driven most of the people insane and now, the film is all set to create some serious buzz at MAMI. This edgy documentary revolves around a film crew following a crazy rickshaw driver’s increasingly destructive adventures, across the suburbs of Mumbai. The film is directed, written by Rohit Mittal, who also stars in the film. Autohead was part of Hong Kong International Film Festival (the only Indian film selected there) and Sitges Film Festival in Spain.
Loev (India Gold)
Director: Sudhanshu Saria
LOEV is about a weekend between friends, where chances are missed, truths evaded and among all the stumbles, it shows how love unexpectedly prevails. Loev has travelled to more than 35 film festivals, including South By Southwest, BFI, Tallinn Black Nights (World Premiere), Tel Aviv International Film Festival (Audience Prize), Jeonju International Film Festival, Frameline among others. Actor Arfi Lamba, who was seen in films like Fukrey, has produced the film under his banner - Bombay Berlin film productions. The banner also has another film, The Road to Mandalay, that will be screened at the festival this year.
An Insignificant Man (Discovering India)
Directors: Khushboo Ranka, Vinay Shukla
This 100-minute film has been distilled from over 400 hours of behind-the-scene footage, shot over a course of two years, with a fly-on-the-wall approach. The film follows now Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and his Aam Aadmi (Common Man’s) Party – an insurgent new political party, as they wield basic public issues like water, electricity, and graft against the country’s oldest and most powerful two political establishments. The film had its World premiere at Toronto International Film Festival and has been screened at BFI London Film Festival, Warsaw International Film Festival, Busan International Film Festival and finally, will now have it's India Premiere at MAMI.
The Cinema Travellers (India Gold)
Directors: Shirley Abraham, Amit Madheshiya
Directors: Shirley Abraham, Amit Madheshiya
The only Indian feature-film to be selected at Cannes earlier this year is an enthralling portrait of the fast-fading journey of the ‘Traveling Cinemas’ of India. A benevolent showman, a shrewd exhibitor and a maverick projector mechanic bear a beautiful burden - to keep the last traveling cinemas of the world running. The film has also been screened at Sydney Film Festival - Australian Premiere, Toronto International Film Festival - North American Premiere, New York Film Festival - US Premiere, Busan International Film Festival - Asian Premiere.
Marathi Talkies: The Marathi Talkies section is screening last year’s hit compilation Bioscope, Rajesh Mapuskar’s family comedy Ventilator, Sachin Kundalkar’s joint-family generational drama Rajwade and Sons and Punarvasu Naik’s satirical thriller Vakratunda Mahakaaya.
Just a few hours to go, before cinephiles rush from one move hall to another, in order to witness some pure cinematic bliss. For those of you who still haven't registered, go get it done right away. You don't wanna miss these amazing films for anything.
Follow us on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter & Snapchat as we bring you live updates, exciting buzz and lots of filmy stories from Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival. Join the conversation using #DancebeeatMAMI and if you are around, do come and say hi!
Follow us on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter & Snapchat as we bring you live updates, exciting buzz and lots of filmy stories from Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival. Join the conversation using #DancebeeatMAMI and if you are around, do come and say hi!
